Here is a rundown of some of the most common ingredients in natural breast enhancement pills:
* Blessed Thistle - The herb blessed thistle is approved by Germany's Commission E for the treatment of loss of appetite and indigestion. It was used historically by nursing women to increase the flow of milk. There have been no published clinical trials on blessed thistle for natural breast enlargement, so we don't know whether it is effective or safe for regular use in large doses.
Blessed thistle is believed to stimulate the production of stomach acid, so it can cause mild irritation of the digestive tract lining. It should not be used by people with gastrointestinal reflux disease, ulcers, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. Blessed thistle should not be used by pregnant women, as it can increase the risk of birth defects and spontaneous abortion.
* Dong Quai - Dong quai is a Chinese herb used primarily to relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, reduce menstrual cramps, and regulate menstrual cycles. The only published study on dong quai and breast enlargement was a case report of a man who took a combination herbal pill and had temporary breast enlargement. The pill was thought to have been contaminated with synthetic estrogen. There are no other published clinical trials on dong quai for breast enhancement.
One potential risk is that dong quai has been found to stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells (estrogen receptor-positive and negative) in test tube studies. Dong quai can increase the sensitivity of skin to the sun's rays. Sunscreen should always be used before any exposure to the sun. Dong quai should not be used by pregnant women.
Dong quai contains chemicals called coumarins, which slow blood clotting, so it should not be taken by people using the "blood-thinning" drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin), Plavix (clopidogrel), Ticlid (ticlopidine), Trental (pentoxifylline), or aspirin. For the same reason, dong quai should not be taken two weeks before or after surgery.
* Fennel Seed - Fennel has been used for centuries as both food and medicine. It was used traditionally to increase the flow of breast milk in nursing women, enhance libido, and increase menstrual flow. There are no published studies examining the use of fennel seed for breast enhancement in humans. In the 1930s, there was some interest in fennel in the development of synthetic estrogens, due to compounds called dianethole and photoanethole.
One study found that after consuming fennel seed for 10 days, the weight of breast tissue in female rats increased. Higher doses increased the weight of the uterus, which suggests that fennel in high doses may stimulate the growth of uterine tissue. Fennel may decrease the effectiveness of the antibiotic Cipro (ciprofloxacin) and possibly other drugs in the ciprofloxacin family and should not be combined.
* Fenugreek - Although there is an unsubstantiated claim that women in harems were fed fenugreek seeds to increase their breast size, no studies confirm fenugreek can result in breast enlargement. Fenugreek contains a compound called diosgenin. In laboratories, diosgenin can be converted to estrogen and progesterone but that same conversion doesn't occur naturally in the body.
People who are allergic to peanuts or soybeans may also be allergic to fenugreek. Side effects from oral fenugreek supplements may include diarrhea and gas. Fenugreek, in large quantitites, may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It should not be combined with diabetes medication unless under a doctor's supervision.
* Blessed Thistle - The herb blessed thistle is approved by Germany's Commission E for the treatment of loss of appetite and indigestion. It was used historically by nursing women to increase the flow of milk. There have been no published clinical trials on blessed thistle for natural breast enlargement, so we don't know whether it is effective or safe for regular use in large doses.
Blessed thistle is believed to stimulate the production of stomach acid, so it can cause mild irritation of the digestive tract lining. It should not be used by people with gastrointestinal reflux disease, ulcers, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. Blessed thistle should not be used by pregnant women, as it can increase the risk of birth defects and spontaneous abortion.
* Dong Quai - Dong quai is a Chinese herb used primarily to relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, reduce menstrual cramps, and regulate menstrual cycles. The only published study on dong quai and breast enlargement was a case report of a man who took a combination herbal pill and had temporary breast enlargement. The pill was thought to have been contaminated with synthetic estrogen. There are no other published clinical trials on dong quai for breast enhancement.
One potential risk is that dong quai has been found to stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells (estrogen receptor-positive and negative) in test tube studies. Dong quai can increase the sensitivity of skin to the sun's rays. Sunscreen should always be used before any exposure to the sun. Dong quai should not be used by pregnant women.
Dong quai contains chemicals called coumarins, which slow blood clotting, so it should not be taken by people using the "blood-thinning" drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin), Plavix (clopidogrel), Ticlid (ticlopidine), Trental (pentoxifylline), or aspirin. For the same reason, dong quai should not be taken two weeks before or after surgery.
* Fennel Seed - Fennel has been used for centuries as both food and medicine. It was used traditionally to increase the flow of breast milk in nursing women, enhance libido, and increase menstrual flow. There are no published studies examining the use of fennel seed for breast enhancement in humans. In the 1930s, there was some interest in fennel in the development of synthetic estrogens, due to compounds called dianethole and photoanethole.
One study found that after consuming fennel seed for 10 days, the weight of breast tissue in female rats increased. Higher doses increased the weight of the uterus, which suggests that fennel in high doses may stimulate the growth of uterine tissue. Fennel may decrease the effectiveness of the antibiotic Cipro (ciprofloxacin) and possibly other drugs in the ciprofloxacin family and should not be combined.
* Fenugreek - Although there is an unsubstantiated claim that women in harems were fed fenugreek seeds to increase their breast size, no studies confirm fenugreek can result in breast enlargement. Fenugreek contains a compound called diosgenin. In laboratories, diosgenin can be converted to estrogen and progesterone but that same conversion doesn't occur naturally in the body.
People who are allergic to peanuts or soybeans may also be allergic to fenugreek. Side effects from oral fenugreek supplements may include diarrhea and gas. Fenugreek, in large quantitites, may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It should not be combined with diabetes medication unless under a doctor's supervision.